Progress Rail Services, Inc. Closes London, Ontario Facility

[wm3798]

Why do health benefits enter into it?  I thought Canada has socialized medicine... Why was EMD paying for health care at all if that's the case?
Lee

[Scottl]

Public health care pays for basic and emergency care.  Health plans supplement it by adding drug plans, special services (PT, OT), private hospital rooms, etc.   Saves companies a bundle not to pay basic.

[FrankCampagna]

No one mentions cutting bloated management pay/benefits and "golden parachutes". Management often gets paid even if they are fired for incompetence. Not as serious as someone making $32 an hour, of course. 

[lock4244]

Why do health benefits enter into it?  I thought Canada has socialized medicine... Why was EMD paying for health care at all if that's the case?
Lee

The cost keeps going up and the coverage keeps going down.

[lock4244]

Public health care pays for basic and emergency care.  Health plans supplement it by adding drug plans, special services (PT, OT), private hospital rooms, etc.   Saves companies a bundle not to pay basic.

Not really, Pud. The Employers Health Tax in Ontario actually costs us (employers) a bundle. I watch the quarterly payments go out to the various levels of Gov't and it is pretty shocking just how much they take. I imagine EMD might have been in the same boat and likely labour costs were not the only factor... McTurd like his taxes.

[Scottl]

Hmmm, I guess I've never been a gainful employer.  I love Ontario and all the taxes, not.  It was hard coming from Alberta where taxes are a dirty word.

[lock4244]

Hmmm, I guess I've never been a gainful employer.  I love Ontario and all the taxes, not.  It was hard coming from Alberta where taxes are a dirty word.

Alberta to Ontario? I thought folks like you were make believe... they mythical Albertan coming east looking for unemployment 

[Scottl]

Hee hee, they took away my red neck badge at the border.  We're the shame of our family.

[Ian MacMillan]

In the news this morning: Cat (tractor division) is hiring 1400 workers in Athens,GA at a new plant they are building, replacing a plant they have in Japan.

Found this as well:
http://www.jconline.com/article/20120218/BUSINESS/202180319/Caterpillar-build-plant-Georgia?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

[C855B]

Yeah... and I was reading yesterday that North Carolina was major pi$$ed about it, too, since they spent a wad of time/money wooing Cat. Apparently some quasi-political heads are going to roll.